Endowed with white sand, golden sunshine and blue seas, Binh Thuan is gearing up to become a leading global destination and a new, dynamic growth driver.
A panorama of a resort project under construction in Phan Thiet city, Binh Thuan province (Photo: Doan Si)
Binh Thuan tourism has grown strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Its hosting of the national tourism year 2023 and inauguration of the two sections of Eastern North-South Expressway have contributed to a tourism breakthrough.
In 2022, Binh Thuan welcomed 5.7 million visitors but last year, the figure nearly doubled to 9.68 million. With a long coastline, fine white sand, clear blue seawater, and warm and sunny weather all year round, there are many other favorable factors to attract domestic and foreign investors to Binh Thuan. To date, the province has up to 380 resort tourism investment projects, with 193 already in operation.
According to Vo Hong Thang, Director of Consulting Services and Project Development at DKRA Group, Binh Thuan possesses multiple tourism advantages, especially its coastline, plus the expressways passing through the province and the nearby Long Thanh airport which is under construction.
“This is one of major advantages for Binh Thuan to attract tourists and investors to learn about and invest in different fields ranging from real estate to industry,” said Thang. “In addition, the announcement of the Binh Thuan provincial planning will help investors have a clearer direction through which they can identify the value and needs of the locality to make a final decision.”
Dr. Tran Du Lich said that Binh Thuan needs a stronger communications and promotion strategy to become the number one destination in Vietnam’s southern region. According to Lich, “Binh Thuan has great potential for tourism development, especially when it’s located next to Ho Chi Minh City. It needs to make a breakthrough based on tourism growth to increase the gross regional domestic product (GRDP). Binh Thuan should be bold and come up with a slogan like “Binh Thuan, an Asian destination with a global vision.”
To that end, Binh Thuan has coordinated with McKinsey & Company, an American consulting firm, to design the “NovaWorld Phan Thiet” project, a tourism development orientation project, to benefit the community and elevate Binh Thuan into the world's leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and wellness tourism destination by 2045.
Foreign tourists visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Binh Thuan. (Photo: Doan Si)
Binh Thuan has now introduced a number of new tourism products and destinations including NovaWorld beach-amusement park and wonderland water park to attract more tourists. Agricultural production areas have been encouraged to participate to serve tourist needs.
At a recent ceremony to announce Binh Thuan provincial planning until 2030, with a vision to 2050, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha pointed out that tourism will be a spearhead economic sector, making Binh Thuan an attractive destination on the heritage road. Binh Thuan should develop tourism products centered around marine activities, particularly focusing on sea adventures, healthcare, and wellness experiences, said Mr. Ha.
“Binh Thuan can absolutely become a top destination by harmonizing the fields that can support each other. Developing resorts, healthcare, sports, and marine tourism is an example,” said Deputy PM Ha, adding, “Binh Thuan’s culture is a special source of inspiration. What I mean is the conservation of marine ecotourism, forests, and the unique cultures of local ethnic groups.”
Favored by nature with a favorable climate for year-round tourism activities plus significant investment in transport infrastructure, Binh Thuan has all the conditions to become a "tourist paradise". Tourism development will make Binh Thuan a "livable place" and drive the province to become a dynamic economic growth pole of the south-central coastal region.
Doan Si
